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Show Friday, July DAILY HERALD 1 2004 A3 Iraqis offer mixed take on Saddam as he appears in court Nadia Abou THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ClusterBAGHDAD, Iraq ing around small TV sets in cafes, hotel lobbies and shops, Iraqis watched raptly as Saddam Hussein appeared in court Thursday, some seething with anger, others in unease. Many people called for his execution, and some said he doesn't deserve a trial. Others felt the time isnt right to seek justice. A few defended the former dictator. "I just hope they will try him by his own law. He knew nothing but executing people for even minor or imaginary offenses," Khaled Mohammed, 28, said as he watched with two friends at a cafe on Baghdad's Saadoun Street. "Saddam should be put in an iron cage at the zoo, so all the Iraqis could come to see him," Mohammed added, his eyes fixed on the picture broadcast TV Iraqiya. by the When Saddam appeared, the cafe fell silent. "Such a person shouldn't be tried. Standing a trial is an honor he doesn't deserve," said Rahman Aziz, 27, owner of a CD and cassette shop. "He should be sent directly to the gallows." Aziz said he was tortured in U.S.-funde- d one of Saddam's prisons for seven months, after the secret police found CDs of Shiite Muslim literature in his shop. "Watching him today is more saddening than joyful because this coward maniac is the one who humiliated us and made our lives hell for 35 years," he said. Not everyone was happy about the judicial proceedings against Saddam. "This is not the time," said Mohammed Mahdi, watching at a howith several tel "Yes, he needs to be brought to justice. But the country has too many other problems now that should be fixed first." Mohammed Kazem, a laborer, disputed the need for any triaL "Saddam only hurt those who tried to not harm Iraq the traitors the Iraqi people," he said. For some, it was a day they long waited for, but didnt expect to come. "Saddam Hussein is the enemy of God, humanity, children and mothers of Iraq. I'm so glad to see him humiliated like this in front of the whole world," said Hamid He said he had prayed God would rid Iraq of Saddam, but never imagined he would see the dictator toppled, let alone stand trial "Execution is not enough punishment for him," al-- now of making statements about the former regime. "We wont say anything," said a woman who runs a handicrafts shop. "Even if the pictures were of him being executed, we wouldn't talk." An elderly man standing beside her nodded in agreement. As Saddam appeared in court, some of the 25 million people who spent the better part of their lives under his authority voiced mixed emotions sympathy or disgust depending largely on where they lived. For Najib Khaled, a Kurd from the northern city of Kirkuk, the images were poetic Saddam in the dock justice before a young judge. "I felt as if Baghdad had fallen again and that the regime was once again toppled, said Khaled, 40, who lives in a region where the deposed leader reportedly authorized the killing of thousands. "In his day, Saddam killed thousands of. Iraqi youths. Today, I am happy because I saw the day when Saddam was being judged by a ' i HUSSEIN MAUJtAssociated Press hotel janitor passes by as former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein appears on satellite television during a court hearing in ' Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday. A Yasseri said. Qassem Jaber, a businessman, said the law in Iraq is that he who kills one person, should be killed. "But Saddam killed more than one million, so he should be executed, without trial in a public square." Some people refused to comment, apparently fearful even FAST FREE TOWING GREAT TAX DEDUCTION RUNNING OR NOT WE DO ALL PAPERWORK ' L3 11 :.. I CIM-CP.'- ,! I ! I I Ill I I h jnuin-m'jiunu'- i- j II J l.bln 1 ANY SALE OR CLEARANCE PURCHASE VALID JULY ., FRI.-MON- j 1 2-- 5 USCOUNT 01 HOME fTORE, UDKT SUITS, UTnKATlF0UtUmOltS,EM'j; CHILDRER'S SHOES SUTTS, STOCTCMR ft DRESJ SLACKS, NETS, WOMB'S 10 1 I Watches, Best Values, Bridal & Special Event Collections, Superior Values, Bridge Sportswear & Select Ladies Designers, IDEOLOGY i.e., i.e. relaxed, Easy Spirit, Cosmetcs, Fraorances, Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Juniors' Moderate Denim m Jeans, Men's & Juniors' & Children's Designers, Levi's. Dockers", Slates, Designer Bed A Rath Hmrkftk Snnnters Flertmnin Rifrs SmaH Flectrics & Vacuums E NO DISCOUNT on Fine S tti!! MfiTft "las &UULJLJ?3 riMTai'J II 1 1 ZHnnnn .. mm 31 P TvT''v "At least Saddam provided us with security. We have seen nothing good from the Ameri- cans," he said. Under Saddam, security was one element virtually guaranif only out of fear of the teed regime's security apparatus. "He knew how to rule Iraq," said Khaled Moufak, 21, a for-- , mer soldier .living in Baghdad. "He robbed us from our rights, but we and our women were able to be safe at the streets. He was executing those who are now sabotaging our country with the help of OA." For some, Saddam and his era are over. "All I can say is that Saddam is already in the garbage of history," said Khalil Jumaa, a worker at a Baghdad hotel ' I fwfm rzzm it. Jo fund Scholarships for Utsh County Kids SIIO? SFECL1 HOURS TODAY 8AT.M0K.1 SATURDAY I. young judge." In the central city of Ramadi, a Sunni Muslim area where support for Saddam has been strong, Odai Faleh voiced doubts that the former president was guilty of much beyond punishing those who deserved ii i iliaiii" mil jiii '.T.V U liTiHIMflliaih' cunm ! I I TIEW I IB :?s ! II i! II VALID 10 Fni. 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